Jennie+Martin

Jennie Frances Martin, a 28-year-old homemaker married to Frank Martin, died January 16, 1906 from sepsis caused by a criminal abortion. Though the Homicide in Chicago Database says she died at Wesley Hospital in Chicago, her death certificate indicates that she died at her home at 3555 Vincentles Avenue. My best guess is that she was died at the home but was taken to the hospital by family members who were in shock, and then the hospital reported the suspicious death to the police. Dr. William F. Briney was held by the coroner's jury.

Jennie's abortion is typical of pre-legalization abortions in that it was performed by a doctor.

Note, please, that with general public health issues such as doctors not using proper aseptic techniques, lack of access to blood transfusions and antibiotics, and overall poor health to begin with, there was likely little difference between the performance of a legal abortion and illegal practice, and the aftercare for either type of abortion was probably equally unlikely to do the woman much, if any, good. For more about abortion and abortion deaths in the first years of the 20th century, see [|Abortion Deaths 1900-1909].

For more on pre-legalization abortion, see[|The Bad Old Days of Abortion]



Source: [|Homicide in Chicago Interactive Database]



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